Operations Management (OPMA)

Operations Management oversees all activities directly related to making a product or providing a service. This functional area is responsible for the processes that transform or convert inputs of materials, equipment, energy, information, and human skills into goods and services that satisfy customer needs. This includes business processes (purchasing, order entry, billing, recruiting, training, payroll, etc.) where the immediate customers are primarily internal to the organization. Large portions of the organizational resources (labour, capital, and materials) are devoted to or allocated by the operations function. The curriculum will often include hands on industry-based projects.

The objectives of the OPMA concentration are to:

• demonstrate the applicability of operations management concepts within organizations
• provide an understanding of the design and implementation of systems for planning, controlling and continuously improving operations
• demonstrate the applicability of analytical aids for managerial decision-making

Students choosing this concentration will be required to take two core courses: OPMA401 Production Planning and Control and OPMA405 Service Operations Management. They have the opportunity to be exposed to diverse topics such as quality management, project management, simulation, business analytics, enterprise systems, e-business, marketing management, and organizational analysis.

Students declaring a Concentration must take a required six courses. Please refer to the University of Calgary Calendar for a description of these courses and their prerequisites.

Requirements

Students must achieve a minimum grade of 'C' in OPMA 317. Successful completion of MGST391 is also a prerequisite for this concentration.